This World AIDS Day, December 1, the Government of Sweden, together with the regional offices of UNFPA, UNAIDS, UNICEF and WHO, announces the start of a USD45 million Joint United Nations (UN) four-year Regional Programme to reduce unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), new HIV infections, maternal mortality and sexual and gender-based violence (GBV) across East and Southern Africa.

This study reviews the laws, policies and related frameworks in 23 countries in East and Southern Africa that create either impediments to, or an enabling environment for, adolescent sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights (SRHR). The assessment resulted in the development of a harmonized regional legal framework, which translates international and regional legal provisions into useful strategies. It gives recommendations based on applicable core legal values and principles, gleaned from a range of conventions, charters, political commitments, guidelines and declarations.

his report takes its inspiration from the United Nations Secretary-General’s Every Woman Every Child initiative, which calls for countries to do everything possible to protect the lives and futures of all women, children and adolescents. It follows the approach used for the

State of the World’s Midwifery 2014 report, but focuses on 21 of the 23 countries in the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) East and Southern Africa region.

This country snapshot provides an overview of national level data for the full scope of HIV and sexual and reproductive health and rights linkages/integration at the levels of enabling environment, health systems and integrated service delivery.

By highlighting results, areas that need strengthening, and data gaps, this snapshot can be used for determining priorities, programme planning and resource mobilization.

Africa’s youth population is growing rapidly, bringing immense opportunities for economic growth and prosperity. Yet, they face many risks as they navigate adolescence – unemployment, teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and genderbased violence. The life skills that many youth lack mean they are unable to negotiate healthy, equitable relationships to plan their families and their futures.

An estimated 1 million women live with obstetric fistula, a devastating consequence of prolonged obstructed labor, and thousands of new case develop each year. Life-restoring treatment for women with fistula is available at the health facilities on this map

“I have learned that as a girl, I also have a voice in my community. I can speak out when things are wrong, such as when I’m forced to marry before I complete school,” says Alifonsino, 12, from rural Petauke in Eastern Zambia.

Two years ago she dropped out of school due to limited support from her family. Many of her older peers in her village were married off at an early age and she worried that it might happen to her too.

Lukulu District Hospital Medical Officer Mr. Simon Mundemba says there has been significant improvements in child and maternal health indicators since the opening of the new public medical facility commissioned by the Deputy Minister of Health in mid 2015.

"Maternal deaths reduced from 6 deaths per annum in 2014 to 2 deaths per annum in 2015. In previous years [before 2014], the district used to record up to 12 maternal deaths per year" Dr. Mundemba said.

UNITED NATIONS, New York/Nkhata Bay, Malawi – Five years ago, people living with HIV could receive HIV services and antiretroviral therapy (ARV) at Mzenga Health Centre in Malawi’s Nkhata Bay district only on Tuesdays. As a result, anyone seen entering the clinic on that day of the week was branded as living with HIV and subjected to stigma and discrimination by the community.

KABWE, Zambia – Southern Africa’s first ever Fast Track Court for tackling cases of gender-based violence has been established in Zambia, to improve delivery of justice in GBV cases. The court has been set up in Kabwe by the Government of Zambia, with support from the UN Joint Programme on Gender-Based Violence (UNFPA, UNDP, UNICEF, IOM, ILO) and with funding from the Governments of Sweden and Ireland.

In Zambia, 43 per cent of women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15, in the majority of cases from intimate partners, current data indicates.

As a demonstration of the importance UNFPA attaches to strengthening midwifery education, UNFPA has made available USD 12,000 and assorted midwifery teaching models and equipment valued at K100,530 towards the establishment of a midwifery school at Solwezi School of Nursing.

The UNFPA Zambia 2015 annual report highlights continued efforts to break the cycle of unfulfilled sexual and reproductive rights for women and young people, thus making a difference in their lives in the course of the year. It documents advancements in national discourse on inequalities - including a sharpened focus on the most marginalized and vulnerable women and young people including adolescent girls; the poorest households; those living in remote and underserved areas; and those facing one form of discrimination or the other.

Lilongwe- Malawi successfully hosted the 5th and final regional project steering committee of the United Nations Aids (UNAIDS) and United Nations for Population Agency (UNFPA) joint initiative on Linking Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and HIV (SRHR-HIV) in Southern Africa from 7th to 9th September in Lilongwe. The Minister of Health officially opened the meeting attended by the UNAIDS Deputy Regional Director as well as the UN Resident coordinator for Malawi, Mia Seppo.

In Zambia, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is implementing its 7th Country Programme of Cooperation (2011-2015) with the Government of Zambia. Its aim is “to contribute to poverty eradication by strengthening reproductive health services and enhancing Governments capacity to implement a multi-sectoral population programme”. The Programme is aligned with Zambia's revised Sixth National Development Plan and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2011-2015.

LUSAKA, Zambia – “Today, stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and key populations remain widespread,” said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, in his statement commemorating World AIDS Day. “We must ensure that anyone at risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections has access to condoms.”

Statement by the UNFPA Executive Director on the occasion of the International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October 2013

More girls are in school today than ever before. However, too many girls, especially the most marginalized, have never seen the inside of a classroom, or they go to school only sporadically, never getting the opportunity to acquire the skills they need to reach their full potential. For those in school, challenges like teacher shortages abound, making learning difficult even for the most motivated student.